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January 19, 2010

Why is Texting So Lethal?

When I heard about the Oprah's No Phone Zone pledge I didn't know how much it would effect the way I drive by simply choosing not to use my phone in the car. I just got back from running an errand, and I couldn't believe how much more attentive I was. What shocked me the most was that I was more present. I saw--really saw--real, living people: couples crossing the street, break lights in front of me, traffic lights changing. Wow. I wasn't thinking about all the things I had to do, or who I needed to call. I was shocked to realize just how dangerous I had become as a driver by using my cell phone.

The fact that I chose not to even think about using my phone made me much more present and interestingly enough, more caring about those outside my car.

I just took the pledge. I'm the 36,559th person to take it since Oprah announced the challenge yesterday. What number will you be? Be present. Stop using your phone while you drive.

The following post is from Wireless and Mobile News: "Oprah calls it "America's new deadly" obsession, texting, emailing and
calling while driving. Oprah's show today illustrates the great
tragedies that happen due to distracted driving.

Oprah urges her viewers to take a pledge. So far over 20,000 people have taken the No Phone Zone pledge:

I pledge to make my car a No Phone Zone. Beginning right now, I will do
my part to help put an end to distracted driving by not texting or
using my phone while I am driving. I will ask other drivers I know to do the same. I pledge to make a difference.

A recent survey found that 71 percent of people between the ages of 18
and 49 admit they text or talk on the phone while they drive.

When a train conductor wasn't paying attention while receiving 40
text messages. The train collided head-on with a freight train,
injuring 135
people, killing the conductor and 24 other peopl.

A truck driver while texting hit a school bus carrying 21 students while. Twenty students escaped, but 13-year-old Margay
Schee was killed.

Nearly 500,000 people are
injured and 6,000 are killed each year because drivers are talking,
texting and e-mailing behind the wheel.

"It is my prayer that this
show, this day will be a seminal day in your life," Oprah says. "Let it
be the end, the end of you using a cell phone or sending a text message
when you are behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. And until we as a
nation decide we're going to change that, those numbers are only going
to go up."

Another good resource for information is FocusDriven,
where Elissa Schee the mother of Margay Schee along with other
concerned parent swho helping victims and campaigning to fight
distracted driving.